Box structure



y 9, 1939- c. H. BALLARD 2, ,686

BOX STRUCTURE Filed Dec. 28, 1936 1n INVENTOR.

(7mm as A. 3524mm ATTORNEYS.

Patented May 9, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BOX STRUCTURE corporation Application December 28. 1936, Serial No. 117,867

6 Claims.

This invention relates to a double wall box of card board or like material.

The chief object of this invention is to provide a double wall box of the general character hereinbefore indicated, with bottom engaging flap extensions on each of the inner walls and which have the adjacent ends of said flap extensions lockingly associated together so that when assembled and set up thebox will retain itself in box formation.

The general type of box which is old in the art, consists of a single blank arranged to form a central body portion, two outside side walls and two outside end walls, each outside wall having a 16 scored or creased connection with the body portion. Each outside wall has a scored connection with an inside wall and the creasing or scoring is of the same character and in the same direction.

Each inside wall supports a flap extension, the

same being connected thereto by a creasedor scored connection, which is oppositely directed with reference-to the two foregoing scored connections, and the width of these extensions, that is, from its inside wall connected portion to its substantially parallel edge portion, may be tha desired.

At the corner between adjacent outside walls,

is a corner structure having a diagonal fold at to the creased or scored connections of the 0 corner structure with the adjacent outside walls,

the diagonal fold or crease being oppositely directed with respect to the two last mentioned corner structure creases.

If, as and when desired, one pair of opposite 35 inside walls may have lateral flap extensions at each side edge thereof and the same may have a creased or scored connection with the supporting inside wall and have an area and outline less than and within the area and outline of the adjacent nition of the type of box in which the present invention is incorporated. The invention relates to-the-locking arrangement between the respectiveflap extensions which register with the body and inmost instances, constitute the sole locking arrangement embodied in the box. In the drawing, only one corner. of a box embodying the invention is illustrated and also one corner of the blank therefor, it, of course, being understood that the box has interlocking connections at all four corners and since there are four connections herein illustrated, all four may be embodied in a quadrilateral outlined box, one at each corner or all comers may have likelocking connections or diagonally opposite corners may be of like locking form, while intermediate diagonal corners may be of dissimilar form, the intermediate corners being dissimilar or like in characteras desired.

'The'iull nature of the invention will be understood from the accompanying drawing and the following description and claims:

In the drawing, Fig. 1 is a perspective view looking down into a corner of a box of the character described and illustrating one form of locking connection.

Fig. 2 isa plan view of the corner portion of the blank from which the corner structure shown in Fig. 1 is'obtained.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 and of a modified form of the invention.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2 and. of the form of the invention shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a further modifled form of the invention and is similar to Figs. 1 and 3.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Figs. 2 and 4 and or a portion of. the blank from which the corner structure shown in Fig. 5 may be obtained.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view similar to Figs. 1, 3 and 5 and of still a further modified form of the invention.

Fig. 8 is a plan view-of a portion of the blank from which the form of the invention shown in Fig. 7 is obtained and said view is similar to Figs. 2, 4 and 6.

In Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing, the simplest form of the invention is illustrated. ,In these figures, l0 indicates the body portion of the blank, Ii what herein is'arbitrarily termed an end wall having a creased connection l2 with the body portion. l3 indicates what is arbitrarily termed a side wall having a creased or scored connection l4 with the body portion. A comer connection l5 has a diagonal fold l6 extending from the intersections of creases l2 and I4 and the latter are continued as at I! and I8, respectively. Walls II and I3 are outer walls. 50

Hingedly connected as by the creased line I9 is an inner wall or inner end 20 and hingedly connected thereto isa body engaging flap extension 2|, the same having the hniged -or creased connection 22 therein whichis oppositely directed with respect to creases I2 and I9. Similarly, the outer side wall has hingedly connected to it as ,at 23 an inner side wall 24 and hingedly connected to the opposite edge thereof as at 25 is a body engaging flap extension 26. The crease or score connection 25 is oppositely directed with reference to the creased or scored connections I4 and 23.

Herein the inside side wall 24' at its free edge has connected to it a lateral flap extension 21 which is hingedly connected thereto by crease or score line 28. The corner connection I5 and the lateral flap extension 21 are separated from each other as indicatedat 29.

It is to be understood in the production of these boxes, the blank is cut from card board stock which may come from sheets, a roll, or the 11k and after being completely formed as an entirety, Fig. 2 representing only a corner portion of such a blank, the blank is fed through a pasting portion of the apparatus which applies thereto a continuous strip of adhesive 36 intermediate the crease or score lines 25 and 23. This continuous strip of adhesive is continued into and across the flap extension, or extensions, 21 as shown. Following this application of adhesive, the blank is engaged by turning mechanisms which turn the inside side walls with their flap extensions inwardly and after being turned in wardly, the blank, with portions infolded in overlapped relation as thus described, is continued into a pressure portion of the apparatus which insures the adhesive connection between the inside side wall and the outside side wall andthe corner connection and the lateral flap extension.

The invention also contemplates the alternative application of the continuous strip of adhesive between score or crease lines I4 and 23, as indicated at a herein, in which event, flaps I5 are covered. When thus positioned, one set up operation is eliminated, for opening the side walls draws upwardly and inwardly the folded corners and outer end walls.

The blanks are then assembled in piles and shipped to the ultimate user who sets up the blank into' box formation with the minimum of eifort, to-wit, the two adheslvely secured side walls are turned substantially at rightangles to the body portion. Then the two corner connections at one end are infolded upon themselves at the same time being positioned inwardly toward each other and with the bringing up of the outside intermediate or end wall. When thus positioned, the inside end wall is infolded over the lateral fi'ap extensions and the diagonally folded corner connections until the end flap extension engages the body portion. Then the inside end wall is drawn toward the outer end wall until the folded corner connections and lateral flap ex tensions and the interior of the outside end wall is engaged. Thereupon the flap extension on the end wall automatically interlocks with the adjacent end of the side wall flap extension. After one end of the box is set up, the box may be turned end forend and the other end similarly set up. This completes the box. This may constitute either a cover or a bottom. The blanks for the cover or lid boxes generally are slightly larger than the blanks for the bottom boxes, it'being understood one cover or lid box is telescoped over one bottom box to form a complete box.

All of the foregoing, except for the interlocking relation between the body engaging flap extene sions, is common to the art. 7

In Figs. 1 and 2, the simplest form of the invention is illustrated. In this form of the invenamount equal to the width of the flap extcnsion 26.

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 and 2, lateral displacement or the tendency of the inner ends to open inwardly and upwardly is prevented by the edge 32 engaging the edge 33 of the inner side wall flap extension 26.

In Figs. 3 and 4 a further form of the invention is illustrated and in said figures similar numerals of the one hundred series indicate like or similar parts. In this form of the invention, however, the notching of the end fiap extension is not provided. In place thereof, a modified form of interlock is obtained, the inside side wall flap I26 including, adjacent the end I33, a substantially parallel slit at I36 and a portion of the crease I25 is slit as at-I31. If desired the slit I36 may extend as shown, see Fig. 4, slightly into the inside side wall. In this form of the invention, the end flap extension I2I has a length substantially the same as the inside end wall I20 and the outside end wall III. As shown clearly in Fig. 3, the end flap extension I2I overlies the adjacent end of the side wall flap extension I26 and a portion of the outer edge I38 near the corner of the end flap I2I seats in the slit I36. The

.slit I31 permits the flap I26 to be depressed at the slitted end to facilitate the aforesaid locking connection. It will be apparent that as to this form of the invention, the lock is solely between the body engaging flap extensions.

In Figs. 5 and 6, a modified form of the illustration is illustrated. In this form a slightly different and more complicated arrangement is illustrated and herein numerals of the two hundred series indicate like or similar parts, similar to those indicated by the one hundred series in Figs. 3 and 4 or by the primary series in Figs. 1 and 2. In this form of the invention, in place of the slit I31, the same is enlarged into the flap extension and is illustrated as a slot or notch 231, it being understood that in the claims, the term slit is sufliciently inclusive to include a slit of any width, thus including a slot.

In this form of the invention also, the end flap extension 22I, instead of being foreshortened as shown by the notched arrangement in Figs. 1 and 2 or being of end wall equivalent length as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, is extended as at 234. Also in this form of the invention, the creased line 225, instead of being a substantially straight line adjacent each end at a slight distance therefrom, is slightly biased as indicated by numeral 240, and the termination of the biased'crease is coincident with the slot 231. Also, in this form of the invention, at the junction between parallel crease 225 and the'biased portion 240, there is provided, a transverse slit 2 which extends transversely across the crease 225 and into the inner side wall a slight distance and into the inner side wall flap extension 226 a considerable distance but does not extend completely across the same. I

Reference will now be had to Fig. 5. This slit 2 is effective to remove any )ulge that might be incident to the setting up of the box and the locking of the parts in box relationship. Also, in this form of the invention, the projecting tongue 234, as it were, extends into the notch or slot 231 and the edge portion 238 of the portion 22| will engage the rear end of the slot 231 as at 242 and prevent inward and upward movement of the locking end flap 22L The slit 236 also 'permits the end of the side wall flap to be depressed to insure reception of the tongue 234 into the notch or slot 231.

Figs. '7 and 8 illustrate a modified form of the invention and numerals of the three hundred series designate like or similar parts, similar to the same parts previously set forth and identified in Figs. 1 and 2 by the primary series of numbers, in Figs. 3 and 4 by the one hundred series and in Figs. 5 and 6 bythe two hundred series. In this form of the invention, however, the slit 331 is shown as not only being formed in the v side wall flap extension 326 but the same is extended into the inner side wall 324 and the flap extension 321 is correspondingly reduced as at 344. If desired, the slit 34 l may be provided. This is clearly shown in Fig. 7. If desired, although the same is not illustrated herein, the slit indicated by the numeral 24! in Figs. 5 and 6, and by 34l in Figs. 7 and 8, may also be applied to the form of the invention shown in Figs. 3 and 4. In the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8, the end extension includesthe locking tongue 334 with the .locking edge 338, similar to the formation illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6. If desired, crease 325 may be biased similar to portion 240 of crease 225. The notch 337 in the sidewall permits portion 334 to be of greater length, that is, projects laterally of the end wall to a greater extent than portion 234. The

side edges in each instance may frictionally engage the immediately exposed side wall, although the same is not necessary for interlocking, merely increasing the eifectivenessthereof.

While the invention has been described in great detail in the foregoing specifications, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character. It is to be understood also that with the exception of the form of the invention shown in Figs. '7 and 8, the interlocking arrangement is obtained solely through the interlocking association of the body engaging fl'ap extensions upon the inside walls. The various modifications which have been illustrated and described herein, as well as those suggested herein, as well as others which will readily suggest themselves to persons skilled in this art, are all considered to be within the broad scope of this invention, reference being had to the appended claims,

The invention claimed is:

1. A corner construction for a knockdown single blank box having a body and adjacent double walls with a diagonally foldable corner first mentioned flap extension.

integral with adjacent outer wall portions thereof and independent body overlapping flap exten sions on adjacent inner walls, including in com-- bination an interlocking connection between adjacent ends of adjacent flap extensions and constituting the sole locking arrangement between the walls for retainingthe same in box formation, the junction between one flap extension and its supporting wall being slit a length at least equal to the width of the adjacent flap extension, and by the addition of a slit angular to the first mentioned slit and extending therefrom into the 2. 'A corner construction for a knockdown junction between one flap extension and its sup- 1 porting wall being slit a length at least equal to the width of the adjacent flap extension, and by the addition of a slit angular to the first mentioned slit and extending therefrom into the first mentioned flap extension, the slit separated wall and flap having another and bulge removing slit therein adjacent but spaced from the angularly positioned slit and angular to the foldable connection therebetween.

3. A corner construction for a knockdown single blank box having a body and adjacent double walls with a diagonally foldable corner integral with adjacent outer wall portions thereof and independent body overlapping flap extensions on adjacent inner walls, including in combination an interlocking connection between adjacent ends of adjacent fiap extensions and constituting the sole locking arrangement between the walls for retaining the same in. box'formation, the junction between one flap extension 3 and its supporting wall being slit a length at least equal to the width of the adjacent flap extension, and by the addition of a slit angular to the first mentioned slit and extending therefrom into the first mentioned flap extension, the foldable connection between the slit separated wall and fiap including a slightly angularly directed portion immediately adjacent the second mentioned slit. 4. A corner construction for a knockdown single blank box having a body and adjacent double walls with a diagonally foldable corner integral with adjacent outer wall portions thereof and independent body overlapping flap extensions on adjacent inner walls, including in com-' bination an interlocking connection between adjacentends of adjacent flap extensions and constituting the sole locking arrangement between the walls for retaining the same in box formation, the junction between one flap extension and its supporting wall being slit a length at least equal to the width of the adjacent flap extension, and by the addition of a slit angular to the first mentioned slit and extending therefrom into the first mentioned flap extension, the slit separated wall and flap having another and bulgeremoving slit therein adjacent but spaced from the angularly positioned slit and angular to the foldable connection'therebetween, and the foldable connection including a slightly angularly directed portion immediately adjacent the second mentioned slit and terminating substantially at the bulge removing slit. 5. A corner construction for a knockdown single blank box having a body and adjacent double walls with a diagonally foldable corner integral with adjacent outer wall portions thereof and independent'body overlapping flap extensions on adjacent inner walls, including in combination an interlocking connection between adjacent ends of adjacent flap extensions and constituting the sole locking arrangement between the walls for retaining the same in box formation,

the junction between one flap extension and its supporting wall being slit a length at least equal to the width of the adjacent flap extension, and

by the addition of a slit angular to the first mentioned slit and extending therefrom into the first mentioned flap extension, the junction slit being of appreciable width and constituting a slot.

6. A corner construction for a knockdown single blank box having a body and adjacent double walls with a diagonally foldable comer integral with. adjacent outer wall portions thereof and independent body overlapping flap extensions on adjacent inner walls, including in combination an interlocking connection between adjacent ends of adjacent fiap extensions and constituting the sole locking arrangement between the walls for retaining the same in box formation, the junction between one flap extension and its supporting wall being slit a length at least equal to the width of the adjacent flap extension, and by the addition of a slit angular to the first mentioned slit and extending therefrom into the able connection therebetween, the junction slit 10 being of appreciable width and constituting a. slot.

CHARLES H. BALLARD. 

